Music holding lyre



Jan. 23, 1968 c. J. ENGELS MUSIC HOLDING LYRE- Filed Oct. 25, 1965 te We Pa n 3,365,164 MUSIC HOLDING LYRE Clifford J. Engels, 213 South East Ave, Montpelier, Ohio 43543 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 502,925 Claims. (Cl. 248-443) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A music holding lyre comprising a back plate having a socket, a supporting stem which is received in the socket, a pin which is secured to the back plate and extends transversely of the stem, the stem being secured upon the pin to retain the stem in the socket, the back plate having a pair of slots extending transversely relative to the pin, a pair of spring clips for holding a pencil, each of which extends rearwardly from. the back plate, is mounted in one of the slots and is secured upon the pin, a music holding clamp which extends in front of the back plate and is pivoted upon the pin, and a spring which bears upon the lower portion of the clamp and upon the back plate to urge the upper portion of the clamp against the back plate.

Background of the invention The invention relates to a music holding lyre, particularly for band instruments.

The members of a band are frequently called upon to play their instruments while marching, and under such conditions each instrument is usually provided with an attachment for holding sheet music in such a position that the musician can read the music while playing the instrument. Such a music holding attachment is called a lyre, because its shape generally resembles that of a lyre.

Music holding lyres used by marching bands are subject to hard use, and diificulty has been experienced for many years from breakage of such lyres. For example, breakage often occurs at the point at which the supporting stem is attached to the lyre in the known construction, which is shown in US. Patents Nos. 1,539,042 and 2,915,849.

Summary of the invention The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for a music holding lyre which is simple and sturdy so as to be durable under the condi tions of hard use to which music holding lyres are subjected. More specific objects and advantages are apparent from the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

A music holding lyre embodying the invention includes a greatly improved structure for attaching the supporting stem to the lyre. In this structure, the supporting stem is received in a socket in the back plate, and is secured upon the pin which serves to pivot the music holding clamp, so that the stem is securely retained in the socket. A spring which urges the upper portion of the clamp against the back plate also may include coils which surround the pin, and a pair of spring clips for holding a pencil may be secured upon the pin.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 of the drawings is an exploded perspective view of a music holding lyre embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a central vertical section, on a larger scale.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

These specific drawings and the specific description that follows are intended to disclose and illustrate and not to limit the invention.

Patented Jan. 23, 1968 The back plate 10 of the present music holding lyre preferably is made of a molded plastic material in order to facilitate the-use of certain improved features of construction which are described hereinafter. A laterally extending pin 11 is fitted in a passage provided in the back plate 10, and a music holding clamp 12 which extends in front of the back plate 10 is pivoted upon the pin 11.

In order to urge the upper end of the clamp 12 against the back plate, a pair of coil springs 13 which encircle the pin 11 are connected by a yoke 14 bearing against the lower part of the clamp 12, and are provided with a pair of feet 15 bearing against the back plate 10.

If desired, the pin 11 may simply have a press fit in the back plate 10. In the illustrated construction, however, the pin 11 is secured in place by a single coil 16 of reduced diameter which forms part of one of the spring coils 13, and which is received in a groove 17 that extends around the pin 11.

A supporting stem 18, which preferably is rectangular, is securely fixed in a socket provided in the back plate 10.

-This arrangement provides a strong and durable connection between the supporting stem and the back plate. The supporting stern may be molded in the plastic back plate, or may be mounted in its socket by a press fit if desired. In the illustrated construction, the supporting stem 18 intersects the pin 11 and is provided with a notch 19 which fits over the pin so as to retain the supporting stem securely in its socket.

A pair of spring clips 21 are provided for holding a pencil which may be used to make notations on the sheet music. The spring clips 21 extend through slots 22 which are provided in the back plate 10, and are secured upon the pin 11. The spring coils 13 also bear against the spring clips 21 so as to hold the spring clips securely in place. In this manner, a simple, inexpensive and durable mounting for the spring clips 21 is provided.

The lower end of the supporting stem 18 may be threaded as at to fit a standard attaching bracket.

In order to reduce the amount of plastic required to produce the back plate 10, the back plate may be relieved at points where strength is not required, for example by providing openings 23.

The clamp 12 preferably is made of metal, and in that case the upper part of the clamp 12 may consist of a pair of relatively narrow wings 24 for engaging the upper portion of the back plate 10. If the clamp 12 were made of molded plastic, the upper portion of the clamp would have to be more substantial in order to provide adequate strength.

The lower part of the clamp 12 consists of a thumb piece 25. Pressure exerted against the thumb piece 25 opens the clamp so as to permit sheet music to be inserted.

The construction illustrated in the drawings may be modified as desired to meet various requirements.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A music holding lyre comprising, in combination, a back plate having a laterally extending pin mounted therein and having a pair of slots extending transversely relative to the pin, a pair of spring clips for holding a pencil, each of which extends rearwardly from the back plate, is mounted in one of the slots and is secured upon the pin, a music holding clamp which extends in front of the back plate and is pivoted upon the pin, and a spring which urges the upper end of the clamp against the back plate and which includes coils that surround the pin and bear against the spring clips.

2. A music holding lyre as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spring includes a coil that is received in a groove extending around the pin, to retain the pin in place.

3. A music holding lyre comprising, in combination a back plate having a laterally extending pin mounted therein and having a pair of slots extending transversely relative to the pin, a pair of spring clips for holding a pencil, each of which extends rearwardly from the back plate, is mounted in one of the slots and is secured upon the pin, a music holding clamp which extends in front of the back plate and is pivoted upon the pin, and a supporting stern of rectangular cross section which is received in a rectangular socket provided in the back plate and is secured upon the pin to retain the stem in its socket.

4. A music holding lyre comprising, in combination, a back plate having a socket, a supporting stem which is received in the socket, a pin which is secured to the back plate and extends transversely of the stem, the stern being secured upon the pin to retain the stern in the socket, a music holding clamp which extends in front of the back plate and is pivoted upon the pin, and a spring which bears upon the lower portion of the clamp and upon the back plate to urge the upper portion of the clamp against the back plate.

5. A music holding lyre comprising, in combination, a back plate having a relatively thick vertically extending central portion and two relatively thick vertically extending side portions which are spaced from the central portion to provide two recesses, and which are rigidly connected to the central portion at least at their lower ends, a music holding clamp which extends in front of the back plate and has a pair of ears extending rearward therefrom, each of the ears being adjacent to one of the side portions, 21 pin extending horizontally through passages in the side and central portions, through the recesses and through apertures in the ears, to serve as a pivot for the clamp, a spring for urging the upper end of the clamp against the back plate that includes a pair of coils located in the recesses and surrounding the pin, which are connected by a yoke that extends downward and bears against the lower portion of the clamp, and a supporting stem having its upper end mounted in a socket that extends upward into the central portion of the back plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 45 0,7 47 4/ 1891 Nosker. 556,209 3/1896 Quinn. 729,871 6/ 1903 Keep.

1,157,194 10/1915 Tryens M8443 2,873,552 2/1959 Jewell 248-460 FOREIGN PATENTS 558,178 7/1923 France.

9 JOHN PETO, Primary Examiner. 

